Iran's Security Agencies Focused on Destroying Civil Institutions

The Center for Human Rights Defenders, led by Shirin Ebadi, accused some governmental institutions of the Islamic Republic, including security agencies, of focusing on the destruction of civil institutions in its monthly human rights report on Iran. This human rights organization also accused some entities under Hassan Rouhani's government of becoming an obstacle to the legal activities of civil institutions and called on the government to strengthen these institutions. On Sunday, December 2, the Center for Human Rights Defenders announced in its November report: 'Despite the emphasis of the ruling system and specifically the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran that the work should be left to the people, this has not been realized. Instead, some governmental institutions, including security agencies, have not only become obstacles to achieving this but have also focused on destroying civil institutions.' According to the website of the Center for Human Rights Defenders, this human rights organization cited the closure of the Journalists' Guild and the Center for Human Rights Defenders, the interrogation of Narges Mohammadi, the arrest of Mahdieh Golroo, and other protesters against acid attacks in Isfahan as examples of 'confrontation with civil institutions.' Mahdieh Golroo, a member of the Women's Citizenship Center, whose image was reflected in the media during a protest against acid attacks in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, was arrested at her home on November 4 and remains in custody. Additionally, reports indicate that during protests on October 21 and November 1 against the 'indifference' of the parliament regarding the issue of acid attacks in Tehran and Isfahan, several individuals were arrested, and their status is unknown. The Center for Human Rights Defenders further stated that the 'tragic situation' in countries like Libya, Iraq, and Syria is due to the lack or weakness of civil society and added: 'It is expected that the new government, understanding this issue, will seek to strengthen civil society rather than allowing some of its subordinate institutions to become obstacles to the legal activities of civil institutions.' This human rights organization noted that one reason for the issuance of the UN General Assembly's Third Committee resolution regarding human rights violations in Iran is the 'despair' of international public opinion regarding progress and improvement of human rights conditions in Iran. On Tuesday, November 27, the UN Human Rights Committee adopted a resolution expressing deep concern about human rights violations in Iran, particularly the 'very high number of executions' by the Islamic Republic. The UN resolution calls on Iran to stop all forms of mistreatment of citizens, including torture, gender discrimination, and targeting activists and journalists. According to the Center for Human Rights Defenders, the people of Iran, like other UN member countries, hoped that with the election of a new president, the political and social atmosphere in Iran would 'open up a bit' and allow for civil activities for citizens, but 'unfortunately, this has not happened so far.' Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and president of the Center for Human Rights Defenders, stated in an interview with the Associated Press on Tuesday, November 20, that the human rights situation in Iran during Hassan Rouhani's presidency is 'as bad' as during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's time and in some cases 'has even worsened.'